New Taskmaster series

[ChedderGorgeous]

AIBU to have never heard of any of the contestants on the new series ? I love taskmaster so trust they have picked a line up that "works" but my god they seem to have run out of people who are in any way famous.
Had to Google the whole cast. From what I can see :
JOANNE MCNALLY – Irish stand up apparently
JOHN ROBINS - Seems to be a Freddie Mercury impersonator who doesn't look anything like him. Also 5live presenter ?

NICK MOHAMMED - Mr Swallow??!
SOPHIE WILLAN – stand up it seems STEVE PEMBERTON - used to be in 'Benidorm' which I have heard of but hate.

Anyone else scratching their head?

I’ve heard of them all, but then I love comedy. Seen John Robins live a couple of times and he’s great, he is also very good friends with Alex Horne. He has just had a big tour of his latest stand up show and it sold out very quickly in my home town, I couldn’t get tickets.

Hmm not sure I agree with your assessment. Looks like John Robins , Mohammed and Pemberton are more alternative left wing comedy. I'm more into a lot of radio 4 comedy and some of the comedians who play bigger venues. Just different tastes I guess.

Just here to share my love of Steve Pemberton.

From would be Mrs Pemberton!

From what everyone is saying I need to look at a lot of Steve Pemberton work.

I frequently don't know 4 out of the 5 on TM. So what? It doesn't stop it being mindbendingly funny and you get to know new comedians who might otherwise never have got this kind of exposure. As PP said, Sam Campbell was new to the UK comedy scene and he was funny as hell.

I initially thought I didn't know any of them apart from Steve Pemberton (had forgotten he was even in Benidorm!) But after Googling I have seen all of them before, I definitely agree some of my favourites have been people I'm not that familiar with so I'm looking forward to it! I mean, I love the new Zealand/Australian versions and never know anyone and it doesn't matter

I don't watch this show but it's an absolute crime to describe Steve Pembleton as being off benidorm.

Interestingly I only like the British version. The NZ Alex Horne just didn't sit right. Has anyone seen the car crash that was the American version? Alex Horne was in it but Reggie Watts was taskmaster. The contestants were the most obnoxious people ever and loved abusing Horne in a malicious way! Kept asking him to suck their pussy! Only a few ep made which was for the best.

He wasn't on it? @Spicybeanburger

Aw, I really liked li'l Paul. I thought he had a very Alex energy. The NZ host was easier on the eyes than Greg, but lacked his vindictive genius and evil therapist ability to X-ray your persona.

Even though the Steve Pemberton ‘was in Benidorm’ comment is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read on Mumsnet, I am genuinely jealous of you if you have never seen Inside No.9. I’d love to have that gift of watching it all again, from the beginning, completely fresh.
Also, as for funniest ‘unknowns’ on TM, Sam Campbell and Paul Chowdhry are my top two.

Maybe you are right - it was more the NZ taskmaster themselves that brought incorrect energy!

I think his speech shows the measure of the man. The look Reece gives him is one of pride and affection. Just lovely. You have a treat in store OP - all episodes of Inside no 9 are on iplayer. It's not comedy as such (although some parts are funny), it's more twisted dark dramedy, like Tales of the unexpected or Creepshow or Twilight Zone but very British.

I definitely thought Paul had just the right energy - he wasn't an Alex carbon copy but had that submissive-but-sly, deadpan thing going on in his little bowtie. The host (what was his name again?) had cheekbones you could cut yourself on but just wasn't mean and funny enough.

John Robbins is DH’s favourite standup. I’m not going to tell him the insane things you’ve written about him here because he’d be so offended. Also baffled you couldn’t manage to use Wikipedia tbh.

I remember us going to see John Robbins when I was heavily pregnant 8 years ago actually. Thought I was going to laugh myself into labour, he’s brilliant.

Responses have shown that John Robins fans anger quickly if you don't know of him ! Pemberton sounds very talented from the clips I've seen now.

Im a big Joanne fan - id watch it just because she's on it!
Very relatable and funny Irish woman.
Ive seen her live show and her live podcast show (with vogue Williams) as well. the podcast is well worth a listen "My Therapist Ghosted Me"

I love little Johnny JR. I agree if people don't get him he may annoy them but I will forever be a Robins apologist. He is an amazing comedian and so much more than 'sara pascoes ex'

@Krustykrabpizza it was coco not emerald he was engaged to

@notforonesecond is your DH on email?

@bananasstink you simply have to be these days.

?? Wrong group

@bananasstink Do you fancy a ploughman’s?

It really isn’t 🤣🤣

@Mitsky got in there before me and I’ll never recover